Newsroom - Oregon Department of Emergency Management

Press Release · January 22, 2026

Honoring Letitia Carson: An Enduring Spirit of Hope and Freedom

In recognition of Black History Month, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, the Oregon State Police, and the Oregon State Fire Marshal invite the public to honor Letitia Carson, one of Oregon’s first Black pioneers, through a month-long exhibit titled Letitia Carson: An Enduring Spirit of Hope and Freedom, on display at the State Library of Oregon.

The exhibit highlights Letitia Carson’s remarkable legacy of perseverance, land ownership, and advocacy for justice. It also draws meaningful connections to contemporary Black agriculturalists, food resilience efforts, and community-based land stewardship across Oregon.

“Honoring Letitia Carson reminds us that resilience, courage, and community have always been foundational to Oregon’s history,” said Troy Davis, the diversity, equity, and inclusion manager for the Oregon State Fire Marshal. “This exhibit recognizes Carson’s enduring legacy, and creates space to reflect on how equity, access, and inclusion continue to shape public service, land stewardship, and community resilience across our state.”

Exhibit Dates: Tuesday, January 27 – Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Location: State Library, 2^nd Floor, 250 Winter St. NE Salem, OR 97301
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed Monday, February 16 for Presidents’ Day)
Admission: Free and open to the public

Opening Reception for Letitia Carson: An Enduring Spirit of Hope and Freedom

Monday, February 2, 2026
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Community members are warmly invited to attend an opening reception celebrating the exhibit. The evening will include light refreshments and opportunities to learn more about the partner organizations whose work continues Letitia Carson’s legacy today. Donations will be welcomed to support their missions.

Community & Statewide Partnership

This exhibit and reception are a collaborative partnership among state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders, including:

Oregon Black Pioneers
Feed’em Freedom Foundation
Black Oregon Land Trust
Oregon Department of Emergency Management
Oregon State Fire Marshal
Oregon State Police
Black Futures Farm
Oregon State University – Letitia Carson Legacy Project
AFSCME 3241 (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees)

Learn More & Get Involved

Black Oregon Land Trust: Instagram @blackoregonlandtrust | Substack: Black Oregon Land Trust
Feed’em Freedom Foundation: Instagram @feedemfreedomfoundation

Together, these partners honor the enduring impact of Letitia Carson while uplifting ongoing efforts to advance equity, land access, food security, and community resilience throughout Oregon.

It is the mission of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) to lead collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters regardless of cause. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure the capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem. You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email OEM_PublicInfo@oem.oregon.gov. We accept all relay calls, or you can dial 711.

Contacts

For News Media

Public Information Officer
Oregon Department of Emergency Management
503-394-3310
https://oregon.gov/oem